Carton



O. L. VlNES Oct. 6, 1959 CARTON Filed June 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1FIGQI a I INVENTOR 3m Oscar L. Vines BY 4 h wt w fwm /w ATTORNE 5 FIG. 2

CARTON 2 Sheets- 2 Filed June 14, 1955 INVEQ Vine BY I I f M i-o Ey sflW1 ailllll I lfnri United States Patent '0 CARTON Oscar L. Vines, NewYork, N.Y., assignor to Continental Paper Company, Ridgefield Park, NJ.,a corporation of New Jersey This invention relates to folding cartons,and more particularly to a carton construction wherein a latching tongueportionof one panel of the cartonis received in a coextensive opening ina Second panel ofthe carton.

Folding cartons fabricated of sheet material such as paperboard arewidely used for packaging a variety of articles. In such cartons it isfrequently necessary to position one panel of the. carton substantiallynormalv or perpendicular to another panel of the carton, and to securethe two panels in this relative position by engaging a latching tongueportion of the first panel in a coexten sive opening in the secondpanel. For example, in a useful carton construction I have devised, ahinged panel or fold section of the carton is swung into a finalposition substantially normal to and in contact with a second panel ofthe carton, the hinged panel having a projccting tongue portion adaptedto extend into and throngh a coextensive opening in the second panelwhen the two panels arein their final position normal-to one another. Ihave found, however, that under eertain conditions of se e projecting tgue p rti n of thehi d pane of my carton tends to become dislodged fromthe open- 3 is uniquely formed to permit ready entry LQf the modifiedlflllgue portion thereunto and tov prevent-withdrawal of. the tongueportion therefrom when in-Jiitsfinal position with respect to the secondpanel. a

Specifically, my invention relates to. a carton construction wherein,during :ercction of the carton," a hinged panel is swung into a finalposition substantially normal to and in contact with a second panel, thehinged panel having a projecting tongue: portion adaptedto extend inn)and through 'a coextensive opening in the second panel when the twopanels a'rexin their final positionnormalzto one another. My improvementin this carton construction comprises. providing the sides of the projecting tongue portion ofthe-hinged panel with laterally extending earportions, and forming the coextensive Opening in thelsecond panelfrom'two longitudinally 'disposed cut lines and a laterally disposedcut'line exten'ding betweenthelongitudinally disposed cut lines, said outlines together defining a resilient flap l in the second panelpositionedin the arcuate path ofthe tongue portion'gof the "hingedpanel. Thelong'itndinally disposed cut lines in the top panel areprovidedwith coextensive 2,907,510 Patented Oct. 6, 1-959 latchingtongue portion. The laterally disposed out line is positioned withrespect to the inboard extremities of the two longitudinally disposedcut lines so as to define .a resilient flap portion therebetween that isreadily deflectable from the plane of the second panel. When the hingedpanel approaches its final position with respect to the second panel,the latching tongue portion of the hinged panel bears against thedeflectable portion of the second panel thereby forcing it out of theplane of its panel and permitting the lateral ears of the tongue portionto enter and extend through the plane of the second panel adjacent therelatively widely spaced coextensive inboard portions of thelongitudinally disposed cut lines. When the hinged panel reaches itsfinal position with respect to the second panel, the latching tongueportion extends :through the coextensive opening in the second paneladjacent the relatively closely spaced extremities of the convergentportions of the longitudinal cut lines so that the ears of the tongueportion engage the surface of the second panel opposite the main bodyportion of the hinged panel. Thus, the latching tongue portion of thehinged panel cannot be withdrawn from the coextensive opening in thesecond panel in course of usual use and handling of the carton.

A particularly-useful application of my improvement in cartonconstructionis in connection with a five-sided ,berry box I havedevised. Accordingly, my invention will be described in conjunction withthiscarton con struction and in conjunction with :the drawings of whichFig. l is a plan view of a cartonblank from which a fiv -s ded cartonisformed, the hinged end wall panels of the blank being provided withlatchingtongue portions having laterally extending cars. and the bottomwall panel being provided with one form of coextensive tongue receivingopenings pursuant to my invention;

Fig.2 is a perspective viewof the partially erected carton formed fromthe blank of Fig. 1; i a Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of apartiall erected carton showing another form of coextensivetongue-receiving. opening in the bottom panel;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the hinged panel of Fig. 3 in itsfinal position; and Fig. 5. is a fragmentary perspective view of apartially erected carton showing still another form or coextensivetongue-receiving opening in the bottom panel of the cartonz tThefive-sided-open top carton or berry box to which my inventioniisparticularly applicable is formed from a accompanying substantiallyrectangular piece of sheet material such as paperboard provided withappropriate cut lines, fold lines and-glue strips as described. Thesubstantially rectangular blank 10' is formed with a plurality of spacedparallel fold .linesll extending longitudinallyacross the blank anddefining serially afirst side panel '12-,a top panel 13, a second sidepanel 14, a bottom panel 15 and a glue panel 16. The top panel 13 isformed witha pair of fold sections .17. that, whenfolded downwardly intotheerected carton, become the. two end walls'thereof, leaving the topofthe cartonsopen' toview. Th-e fold sections 17 are defined by a pairof fold. lines 18 extending laterally across and substantially parallelinboard portionsijspac'ed apart 2 4 a distance slightly greater than theextreme span 'of the ears'of the latching tongue 'portion, me nt me;provided with coextensive and convergent outboard puftiflns t s bsar emi oi h ch a eras d apart aaista'nce less than'theextreinespan of theears 'of 'tlie the top. panel 13, a pair of channel-shaped cut lines 19.disposcd longitudinallyin the adjacent portions of the side panels 12and14, and a out line 20 extendinglaterally across the top panel fromonelongitudin'al out line U to the other and positioned between the foldlines 18.

' The -laterally disposed outline Ztiis so configured that it def nesalong abutting edges of the two; fold sections 17 a plurality oflatchingtong ue po rtions'f'z 1, tlilatching ongu po i ns 2i i g ith lterally extending ears 21a. Each fold "section" 17 is providedwith wing,fere withthe ready erection .of the carton.

portions '22 formed from the side panels 12 and 14.

These wing portions 22 are defined by the channel-shaped out lines 19,the proximate fold line 11, and the lateral cut line 20 andare attachedto the associated fold section '17 along the said longitudinal foldlines 11.

The side panels 12 and 14 are advantageously provided with auxiliaryportions 12a and 14a respectively which form foot portions on which thecarton standswhe'n it is fully erected. In such case an" auxiliarylongitudinal fold line 11a is provided in the side panel 14 tofacilitate erection of the carton. The bottom panel 15 of thecartonblank is formed with coextensive openings adapted to' receive thelatching tongue portions 21 and laterally extending ears 21a of thehinged fold sections 17 when the carton is erected. Each of the saidcoextensive openings formed in the bottom panel are defined by twolongitudinallydisposed cut lines 31 connected by a laterally disposedcut line 32 which together define a resilient flat-portion 33 of thebottom panel. Other openings in the bottom panel 15 defined by thechannel-shaped cut lines 23 are provided to receive the lower ends ofvided :with. auxiliary foot portions 12a-'and-'14a, respectivelyythe:glue strip 25 must be. spaced an appropriate distance inboard of thelongitudinaledg'e of the side panel 12.as shown in Fig.1 of the drawing.In addition, in suchcase glue is also applied in a strip 26 along theauxiliary-portion 14a of the side wall panel 14 as shown in- Fig. 1,.care. being taken to avoid applying'glue to any part ofthe bottom'panel15, and in particular to any of the cutout por'tionsthereof that' mightas aresult'inter- The side wall panel 14 of .the 'carton blank is thenfolded about the'fold line 11a, and theside wall panel 12 is foldedabout the proximate lateral fold line 11, the glue strip 25 thereonadhering to the glue panel '16 of the carton.

The fold sections 17 of the toppanelare then folded downwardly andinwardly into the interioriofthefolded and glued carton blank to formthe end walls of the erected carton. A semi-erected carton one ofzthefold sections of whichhas thus been folded to form anend wall is shownin Fig. 2.. As each fold section l7 -is pressed into the interior of thecarton, the wing portions 22 thereof are automatically folded inwardlyand up wardly until they are at right angles to the mainv portion of thefold section 17. As the fold section 17 comes into the bottom panel 15(modifications of whichopenings are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and4, and Fig.5) are defined by two longitudinally disposedcutlines. 31connected by a laterally disposed cut line 32which together define aresilient flap portion'33 of the bottom panel... Moreover, in each ofthe modifications of my invention shown in the drawings, the twolongitudinally disposed cut lines 31 portions and ends {1 extending earsof the latching tongue portions 21. The cut lines 31 and 32 are sopositioned on the bottom panel 15 that, as the hinged fold section 17swings in an arcuate path towards its final position approximatelyperpendicular or normal to the bottom panel, the latching tongue portion21 thereof first strikes or touches the bottom panel between thecoextensive inboard portion 34 of the cut lines 31. Further arcuateoutward travel of the hinged section 17 causes the tongue portion 21 todepress the resilient flap portion 33 of the bottom panel 15, which inturn permitsthe lateral ears 21a to enter and pass through the plane ofthe bottom .panel adjacent and between the coextensive inboard portions34 of the longitudinal cut lines 31. In this connection it is importantto note that the inboard portions 34 of the coextensive cut lines 31must be long enough (at least about 10 times the thickness of thepaperboard from which the carton is made) to permit readydeflection ofthe resilient flap 33'by the tongue portion 21. Thus; the latchingtongue,

portion 21, and in particular the laterally extending ears 21a thereof,readily. enter and extend through the coextensive opening in the bottompanel 15 of the carton.

As the hinged fold section 17 swings further toward its final positionwith respect to the bottom panel 15, the

bottom edge of the tongue portion 21 slides off the outboard edge of theresilient flap portion 33 allowing the flap'to spring back toward itsinitial position in the plane of the bottom panel. When it reaches itsaforesaid final position, the outermost surface of the latching tongueportion'21 comes to ,rest against the outboard'edge of the coextensiveopening in the bottom panel 15 which eflectively prevents furtheroutward movement of the hinged section 17. I Similarly, inward arcuatemovement of the hinged fold section 17 is checked by the edge of theresilient flap 3 3 that bears surface of the tongue portion 21.

When the hinged fold section 17 is' in its aforesaid final position, thelatching tongueportion 21 is positioned between 'the convergent outboardportions 35 of the coagainst thev innermost extensive 'cu't lines 31'.-jThe main body portion of the hingedsection 17, of course, is disposedabov'e'the plane of the bottom panellS, and the laterally extending ears21a of the tongue portion 21 are disposed below the plane ofthe bottompanel opposite thereto. The'*convergent portions 35 of'the cut lines 31,being spaced appreciably closer together than the extreme span of thelateral ears 21a,elfecti-vely'preveiit withdrawal of the latching tongueportions 21 vertically from the coextensive openings in the'bottom panel15. Thus as outward, inward and-vertical movement of the hinged foldsection 17 with respect to the-bottom panel 15 is etfectivelyprevented,thevdislodgment of the -'latching. tongue portion 21 from itsfinal positionin 'the'c'o'extensive tonguereceiving opening prevented..7 Ashereinbefore noted, the foregoing description of .'my:invention' ispertinent :to all of the modifications thereofs'hown in the drawings. Inthe specific modification showniin Figs. 1 and 2, the laterally disposedout line 32 connects the outboard extremities of the two longitudinallydisposed-cut lines 31.1.Thus, when the hinged section 17 approaches its:final: position approximatelynormal to. the ,bottom panel, and thebottom' edge of the,tongue portion 21 slides oif'the outboard edge ofare provided withcoextensive and substantially parallel outboardextremities of which are spaced apart a distance appreciably lessthanthe extreme .span of the laterally the resilient flap .33,= the flap33 springs back toward its initialposition-in the plane of thebottompanel. ;How- .ever, due to the: pre ence. of, the-tongue portion 21 inthe openingin'the bottom panel," the outboard edgeof V the flap 33 bindsagainst the innermost, surface of the tongue portion before itcanreturn. all the way to: its aforesaid initial position. 1 The tongueportion 21 is therefofre wedged lfirmly against the outboard edge pithecoextensive dpening. in the bottom panel, by the action or (the,resilient flap. 33 thereagainsti. ry As n result, the tongue .P'Q n .1 l'eg i e a let P inthe bottom panelisalso eflfectively tion of saidcoextensive opening so that it is practically impossible to dislodge thetongue portion therefrom without destroying the carton.

In the modification 'of my invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thelaterally disposed out line 32 connects the two longitudinally disposedcut lines 31 at a point approximately intermediate the inboard andoutboard extremities of said longitudinal cut lines 31. A weakened foldline 36 connects the outboard extremities of the longitudinal cut lines31. The fold line 36, the convergent outboard portions 35 of thelongitudinal cut lines 31 and the lateral out line 32 together define afold section 37 that folds downwardly about the fold line 36 to form anopening in the bottom panel in which the tongue portion 21 is readilyreceived. When the bottom edge of the tongue portion 21 slides oil ofthe outboard edge of the resilient flap 33 as shown in,Fig.I,4, thetongue portion strikes the fold section 37 rather sharply causing thefold section to snap downwardly to form the aforesaid opening inthebottompanel. Further outward arcuate travel of the hinged fold section17 allows the ends of the Wing portions 22 to snap into the opening 23provided for that purpose and thus maintain the tongue portion 21between the convergent portions 35 of the longitudinally disposed cutlines 31. As a result,

the tongue portion 21 cannot be dislodged or withdrawn from thecoextensive opening in the bottom panel in the courseof ordinary use andhandling of the carton.

In the carton construction shown in Fig. 5, the laterally extending outline 32 is channel-shaped and is disposed so that it connects theinboard extremitiesof the'two longitudinally disposed cut lines 31. Thechannel-shaped configuration of the out line 32 defines the resilientflap 33 the outboard edge of which is positioned approximatelyintermediate the inboard and outboard extremities of the longitudinalcut lines 31, as in the case of the modification of my invention shownin Fig. 3. Moreover, the outboard extremities of-the longitudinal cutlines 31 are connected by a weakened fold line 36 as inthe preceding\case. The fold line 36, the channelshaped cut line Y32 and thelongitudinal cut lines 31together define acrescent-shaped fold section38 adapted to be folded upwardly as shown in Fig. 5 to form an openingin the bottom panelin which the tongue'portion 21 can be received. Thefold section 38 is folded upwardlyas shown, either manually or byautomatic machinery, before the hinged fold section 17 is swung into itsfinal position. The hinged fold section is then pressed into itsaforesaid final position precisely as in the case of the modification ofthe invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Although my invention has been described with particular reference tothe unique five-sided berry box of my devising, it is apparent that itcan be applied with equal success to any carton construction in which alatching tongue portion of a hinged first panel enters and extendsthrough a coextensive opening in a second panel,

in the manner described herein. In all events, for satisfactoryperformance the hinged first panel must be free to swing in an arcuatepath so that the latching tongue portion thereof will bear against thesecond panel without impediment. For example, in the carton blank shownin Figs. 1 and 2, the longitudinal fold lines 11 forming the boundarybetween the top panel and the two side panels 12 and 14 areadvantageously modified so that the portion of these fold linesextending across each foldfsection 17 converge slightly toward eachother as be seen that I have devised an important and valuablecontribution to the art to which it relates. a

I claim:

1. In a foldable carton construction whereilti during erection of thecarton, a first panel, hinged about an-axis parallel toand spaced fromthe plane of a second Panel, is swung into a final positionsubstantially normal to and in edge-on contact with the second panel,the hingedpanel having a projecting tongue portion adapted to extendinto and through an opening in the second panel when the two panels arein their final position substantially normal to one another, theimprovement which comprises providing the sides of the projecting tonguepor.- tion with laterally extending ear portions, and forming saidcoextensive opening in the second panel from twg longitudinally disposedcut lines and a laterally disposed out line extend between saidlongitudinally disposed cut lines, said longitudinally disposed cutlines having co; extensive substantially parallel inboard: portionsspaced apart a distance slightly greater than the extreme span of theears 'of the latching tongue portion and further having coextensive andconvergent outboard portions the outboard extremities of which arespaced apart a dis.- tance appreciably less than the :extreme span ofthe ears of the latching tongue portion, the laterally disposed out linebeing positioned with respect to the inboard extremities of saidlongitudinally disposed cut lines so thata porr tionof the second panelbetween the longitudinally dis-. posed cut lines is readily defiectablefrom the plane of the second panel as the hinged panel approaches itsfinal position with respectto the second panel and the latch ing tongueportion of the hinged panel bears against said deflectable. portion ofthe second panel, thereby permitting the laterally extending ears ofsaid tongue portion to enter and pass through the plane of the secondpanel adjacent the coextensive inboard portions of the longitudinallydisposed cut lines, the ears of the latching tongue portion beingdisposed on the side of the second panel opposite to the main bodyportion of the-hinged panel 'when said hinged'panel is in its said finalposition. a

2. In, a foldablecarton construction wherein, during erection ofthe'carton, a first panel, hinged about an axis parallel to and spacedfrom the plane of a second panel, is swunginto a final positionsubstantially normal to and in edge-on contact with the second panel,the hinged panel having a projecting tongue portion adapted to extendinto and through a coextensive opening in the second panel when the twopanels are in their final position sub Stantially normal to one another,the improvement which comprises providing the sides of the projectingtongue portion with laterally extending earportions, and forming-thecoextensiveopeningin the second panel from two longitudinally disposedcut lines and a laterally disposed ther having coextensive andconvergent outboard portions the outboard extremities of which arespaced apart a distance less than the extreme span of the ears of thelatching tongue portion, the centralportion of said laterally disposedcut line being spaced an appreciable distance outboard of the inboardextremities of said longitudinally disposed cut lines, whereby thelatching tongue, portion of the hinged panel forces said resilient flapportion of the second panel out of its normal position in the plane ofits panel when the hinged panel approaches its final position withrespect to the second panel, and whereby said resilient flap springsback toward its normal position when the latching tongue portion of thehinged panel is in its final position with respect to said second panel.

a 7 I 3. 'In a toldable carton construction wherein, during erection ofthe carton, a first panel, hinged about an axis parallel to and spacedfrom the plane of a second panel, is' swung into a final positionsubstantially normal to and in edge-on contact with the second panel,the hinged panel having a projecting tongue portion adaptedto extendinto and through a coextensive opening in the'secnd panel when the twopanels are in their final position normal to one another, theimprovement which comprises providing the sides of the projecting tongueportion with laterally extending ear portions, and forming thecoextensive opening inthe second panel from two longitudinally disposedcut lines and a laterally disposed out line connecting saidlongitudinally disposed cut lines, said longitudinally and laterallydisposed out lines together defininga resilient flap portion disposed inthe arcuate path of travel of the latching tongue portion of the hingedpanel, said longitudinally disposed cut lines having coextensivesubstantially parallel inboard portions spaced apart adistance slightlygreater than the extreme span of the ears of the latching tongue portionand further having coextensive and convergent outboard portions theoutboard extremities of which are spaced apart a distance less than theextreme span of the ears of the latching tongue portion, said laterallydisposed cut line connecting the two longitudinally. disposed cut linesapproximately intermediate the outboard and inboard extremities of saidlongitudinally disposed cut lines, the second panel being furtherprovided witha lateral fold line connecting the outboard extremities ofsaid longitudinally disposed cut lines, said lateral fold line togetherwith said laterally disposed outline and the outboard extremities ofsaid longitudinally disposed cut lines defining a fold section, wherebythe latching tongue portion of the hinged panel forces said resilientflap portion of the second panel out ofits normal. position in the planeof its panel when the hinged panel approaches its final position withrespect to the second panel, and whereby said resilient flap springsback to its'inormal position in the plane of the second panel whenv thelatching tongue portion o f'the hinged panel is in its final positionwith respect to said second panel. 1

4. In .a, foldable carton construction wherein, during erection of thecarton, a first panel, hinged about an axis parallel to and spaced fromthe plane of a second panel, is swung into a final positionsubstantially normal to and in-edge-on contact with the: second panel,the hinged panel having a projecting tongue portion adapted to extendinto and through a coextensive opening in the second panel when the twopanels are in their final position normal to one another, theimprovement which comprises providing the sides of the projecting tongueportion with laterally extending ear portions, and forming thecoextensive opening in the second panel from two longitudinally disposedcut lines and a channel-shaped laterally disposed.

out line connecting the inboard extremities of said longitudinallydisposed cut lines, said out lines together defining a resilient flapdisposed in the arcuate path of travel of the latching tongue portion ofthe hinged panel, said longitudinally disposed cut lines havingcoextensive substantially parallel inboard portions spaced apart adistance slightly greater than the extreme span of the ears of thelatching tongue portion and further having coextensive and convergentoutboard portions the outboard extremities of which are spaced apart adistance less than the extreme spanof the ears of the latching tongueportion, the central portion of the laterally disposed cut line beingspaced an appreciable distance outboard of the inboard extremities ofsaid longitudinally disposed cut lines, said out lines together defininga resileint flap disposed in the arcuate path of travelof the latchingtongue portion of the hinged panel, the second panel being -=furtherprovided with a lateral fold line connecting the outboard extremities ofsaid longitudinally disposed cut fines, said lateral fold line togetherwith said channel-shaped out line and said longitudinally disposed cutlines defining a crescent-shaped fold section adapted to fold about saidlateral fold line, whereby the latching tongue portion of the hingedpanel forces said resilient flap portion of the second panel out of itsnormal position in the plane of its panel when the hinged panelapproaches its final position with respect. to the second panel, andwhereby said resilient flap springs back to its normal position in theplane of its panel when the latching tongue portion is in its finalposition with respect to said second panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS682,306 Woolsey Sept. 10, 1901 885,159 Keys .Apr. 21, 1908 1,195,358Hullings Aug. 22, 1916 1,394,134 Aberle Oct. 18, 1921' 1,573,149. EngelFeb. 16, 1926 1,670,498 Einson May 22, '1928 2,527,702 Buttery Oct.31,1950 2,630,265 Hellawell Mar. 3, 1953 2,636,661 Cox Apr. 28, 19532,640,589 Foster et a1. June 2, 1953 2,679,970 Saidel June 1, 19542,718,998 Bemiss Sept. 27, 1955 i I FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Dec. 19, 1949

